Palma City Breaks
The sunlit Majorcan capital
This Spanish beauty has blending culture and style down to a tee, which you'll find out all about on your holiday to Palma City. Holidaymakers will find international and local shops, museums and a vibrant nightlife to get their teeth into. Get your beach towel, book and swimsuit ready because not only is Palma a charming city, it has a glorious beach too.
The cultural centre of Majorca, Palma is home to three fantastic art galleries: Es Baluard, Fundacion Juan March and Ferran Cano. Explore the cathedral and the 11th Century Arab Baths and learn all about the island's history in its many museums. Eat al fresco at Palma’s pretty waterside cafés, hit the shops and look for bargains in the boutiques or find something completely unique in the vintage stores. Palma City is a cultural jewel waiting to be uncovered.
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Your Palma City questions, answered
Glorious weather abounds in Palma City. It's very hot in the summer and pleasantly mild in the winter. Consider spring or autumn for shoulder-season prices.
Less than three hours by air from the UK, Palma is a good choice for a city break. Whether you’re after a weekend of warmer weather, some serious shopping or a dive into history, Palma has it all. And it makes a splendid base for exploring the rest of the island. You can drive to the furthest points on Majorca in under an hour, so the tucked-away beaches, hilltop villages and dramatic coastal viewpoints are never far away. Palma is a very walkable city with many streets pedestrianised, making for a relaxing, laid-back city break.
Dining out on seafood is a must while in Palma City. Head to the city's lovely marina for your choice of amazing fish restaurants.
Climb up one of the 14th century Bellver Castle's three towers to look out over the city for the best view on the whole island.
It’s impossible to miss the huge Gothic Cathedral on the edge of Palma. The central nave is even higher than Notre Dame in Paris. It’s a striking building. The many religious ceremonies here dictate the pace of life in Palma. Around Easter is a good time to see the glorious Palm Sunday processions. Then there are the winding cobbled alleyways, the grand open squares and the striking Museum of Contemporary Art. The Castle and Royal Palace make dramatic additions to the skyline, and there are some fine restaurants and cafes to keep you going.
Depending on the number of museums or galleries you want to visit, you could spend days wandering around Palma City. Most people would want at least a few days here to get to know something of the city and then use it as an ideal base to head off and explore Majorca. The highlights of the island can be taken in during a hectic five-day dash, or at a more leisurely pace over a week. It’s the sort of place that people come back to repeatedly, lured by the delicious food, beautiful scenery and variety of corners to explore.
Palma is a very walkable city and so it’s good for families. Many of the streets are pedestrianised, too, and there are various cafes to provide welcome breaks. Everywhere there are green spaces. In the shadows of the great cathedral are two small play parks where kids can burn off some energy. A horse and carriage can be hired for a tour of the city, and the sculptures outside the Es Baluard Museum are entertaining distractions. There’s a castle and a fortress, and even an aquarium.
There are small beaches right in the city itself that are safe, clean and family-friendly. If you hire a car you’ll be able to head to some of the best beaches on the island. The long sandy beaches near Alcudia can be reached in less than an hour and are popular with water sports enthusiasts and families. All around the island are tiny, hidden beaches tucked into sheer cliffs. Some can only be reached by the adventurous on boats or kayaks and others are lined with bars and restaurants with all the facilities you could need.
It has anything and everything. Head to La Lonja district for unique cocktail bars tucked away in the maze of streets, each offering something more enchanting and curious than the last. If you’re after dinner and drinks followed by dancing, head to Santa Catalina where you’ll find all three together. Clubs are found around the Paseo Maritime district, with venues playing host to international DJs who keep the party going into the early hours. And high-end glamour can be found in Puerto Portals, which has luxury boutiques and glitzy restaurants.